Maltipoo

This Maltipoo lies down in the heat of a sunlit windowsill.

A Poodle hybrid is a cross (hybrid) between a Poodle and some other breed of dog. Poodle hybrids have become very popular as pets. They play a big role in the current designer dog trend. The Poodle's non-shedding coat and penetrating intelligence are the usual motivations behind such experimentation, where potential pet owners are looking for a highly intelligent, nonshedding version of a breed for health, aesthetic, or hygenic reasons. While some of the crosses have been accidental, most of the very successful crosses are deliberate and industries unto themselves.

A breed cross is not a recognized breed, although some breeders promote them as such; this is because certain of the crosses have fairly consistent appearance, personality, and size, and are easily identifiable (as for example the schnoodle). Other crosses are less predictable, resulting in wildly variant appearances and personalities (as for example occurs in the so-called Yorkie-poo, the yorkshire terrier cross).

Often touted are the alleged non-shedding properties of certain crosses. While often true, this is not always the case, and any cross involving a shedding breed may result in offspring that shed. What is almost always true is that the offspring of two entirely different breed dogs is very unlikely to have genetically-linked diseases perpetuated by the inbreeding of pure breeds. Assuming the parents are properly matched for size and build, first generation hybrid dogs are likely to be very healthy and vigorous throughout their lives having a much lower chance of developing genetic diseases or disorders based upon skeletal geometries.

A Poodle-Wheaten hybrid, commonly known as a Whoodle, is a sweet and agreeable dog.

Names for hybrids

None of the following hybrids have been recognized as breeds, but many people who sell such dogs give them invented names to enhance their marketability. The crosses are usually with the appropriately sized Poodle for the size of the second breed; for example, Cockapoos are usually Miniature Poodle mixes.